Elevating truck



j H. s. GERMQND. JR.. E1' Al,

ELEVATING TRUCK Filed oct. 4, 192:5

4 sums-substl x H. s. GERMOND, JR., E1- AL ELEVATING- TRUCK' Filed061'.. 4, 1923.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

t., I. O: 25 1927 H. s. GERMOND. JR.. ET AL,

' ELEVATLNG TRUCK s Filed oct. 4, 192s 4 sheets-sheet VENTOR Q0 l MMW/Wg? ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 1927.

narran srfrfES HENRY SHELDEN GERMOND, an., or BAYONNE, AND

,tif y 1 FRANK L. EIDMANN, 0E Noi'tf'rrr'l BERGEN, NEW JERSEY, AssIGNoEsfro SAID lHENRY GERMONDJJR.

ELEVATING TRUCK.

Application vl'e. October 4, 1923.A Seri-a1 No. 6665,441. c t

`that type of Ielevating trucks including a member movable substantiallyvertically in vor parallel to the axis of swivel of the steer ingwheels, said member being adapted to be so connected to the -drafthandle as `to "elevate the platform by swinging of the handle invertical planes Vwith the handle in any of the' usual steering positionsat angles to 'the longitudinal median line of the truck. ,l

One object 4of the invention is to Yprovide a truck of the characterdescribed embodying a novel and improved actuating mechanism for raisingsaidplatform by means of said draft handle including a member verticallymovable substantially in the `line o'f axis of the 'steering swivel andconnected to said elevating platform, and `means for connecting saiddraft handle to said ver.- vtically movable member while "said lhandleis in any usual steering position for raising Vsaid platform. l v

Another'object is to provide in such a triufk novel and improved meansYfor automatically disconnecting the ,draft handle from operativerelation to the-said vertica1- Ilyinovable membery and elevatingplatform after the platform has been raised to its maximum height, Iby alongitudinali pull upon the handle such as would ybe "incident Vtodrawing the trucl'r, whereby the 'possibility of the handle beinglaccidentally thrown upwardly by the descent of the plat- Y Y form isobviated. c v A further object is to provide novel'and improved meansfor preventing Iaccidental upward swinging of the 'handle aftergthe loadhas been elevated and before the han I ldle lhas been disconnectedfrom'the elevating` platform.

Other objects are toprovide anfelevating truck ofthe general characterdescribedin-l cluding a-member connected `to lthe Velevating platformfand vertically 'movable inthe line of :axis of the steering swivelandzf'ormed with a substantially horizontal v`segnientail liange adaptedto beengaged Vby 'one end of Sa 'thrust pawl pivotally connected to oneend ofa lever pivoted on :a horizontal axis intermediate itsfe'nds onisaidswivel, the other endv orf-said lever being adapted toV sep-`rrr-ably connect with the draft handle pivotally connected'to saidswivel' .on `said pivot of said lever, whereby V:sai-'dll'e'ver'nrayv'befw oscillated about its 'pivot by said Ihaudle simultaneouslywith swinging'of the latter about said pivot to raise the elevating Vplaform and be disconnected 'from'sa'id handleafter said platform has vbeenraised, and

to obtainl otherresults 'and advantages yas may be brought vout bythefollowing de-v scription.

- Referring tol the accompanying drawings,

Vin which thefsame reference characters des- `ignate Icorresponding andlike par-ts,

Figure 1 is a partial sectional land-'partial side elevational Viewl ofan elevating vtruck embodying our invention, vthe elevate v ingplatformbeing shown inf-itslowermos't and vnormal position f Figure 2 isa top plan view of lthetiuck; Figure 3 is aside elevation of the jtruckwith the platform inv its upper-most position and the draft'handle shownat the end Iof its `elevating operation; f Y l I A Figure 4 is a viewsimilar to Figure '3 showing Athe draftV handle in the position assumedwhen it is utilized-for draw-ing the trucl; from pointto'point,zthe'platform actuatingV mechanism being shown vin inoperativeposition; f

" Y Figure 5 is a`view similar toJEig-uree lshowing 'the manner ofreleasing the Aelevating platform to. its lowermost position;

Figure 6 1s a fragmentary side Veleva-tion o'f theV forwardr portion ofthe truck showing 'y the operation ofthe draft handle into vthe positionAto elevate the platform, :and

Figure :l 1s afront elevation of the for# u ward' end Aof vthe truckshowing the mannerl loo c I of .operating'the elevating --mech'anis'm atydifferent l steering vpositions of the draft handle.v t Y' [In'thespecific embodiment of the in ven` tion shown on fthe drawings, 'the'reference character-ier designates 'the *frame "of `the Ytruck which`may be of .any suitable construction andisf mountedat @the rear "end onsd.. A`

lio

wheels 1 journaledy on a transverse shaft 2 (see Fig. 5). The forwardend of theframe A is provided substantially centrally of its width witha king pin 3 revolubly journaled inthe frame and carrying at its lowerend a pair of steering wheels 4, this construction enabling the truck tohe steered by rotation ofthe king pin 3.

An elevating and load sustaining plat-v form B is mounted on the frame Ain such a mannerethat the truck may be pushed beneath a load which isspaced yfrom the floor as by means of skids, the said platform beingadapted to be elevated on the lframe A to -raise the load fromthe flooronto the truc-k. Anysuitable'means may be utilized for so mountingthe'platform on the frame, but in the present instance a pair ofparallel links 5' is shown as pivotally connected between the frame Aandthe platform B at eachendgso that forward motion of the' platformcauses oscillation of the'parall'el linksi which in turn raises theplatform on otlpin 7 a] steering and draft handle 8 the pivoted endofwhich isalso bifurcated and provided with substantially longitudinalslots 9 invits arniswhich receive the pin 7.

The free end of the handle 8 .may be provided with liand-holds 10 to begrasped by an Operator for pulling the truck from place to place,A andwith this-construction it will be obviousthat la pull upon the handle 8will through ,the ybracket 6 serve to draw the truck, and at the sainetime horizontal swinging of the handle will rotate the-'king pin landthe steering wheels l so as to steerV the truck. i i y A` sleeve. 11 .isslidahly mounted on the 'kingpin 3 abovethe frame A vand is proyided atits upper end with a substantially semi-circular flange 12.." The rearsidev of said sleeve is provided with 1a. longitudinal v' .the platformhas been raised to its'upperslot 13 which is `connected by/a pivotpin111 /to one end of a link 15 the `other end of which Aispivotallyconnectedbyajshaft 1G to the Y forward end of the platform B. Thelengthof said slot l13 is substantially equalvto the distance of verticalmovementv of theplat- Vform B. The sleevev11 normally rests upon the topof the frame A and when the platform B is in its lowermost position thepivot pin 14 is disposed in the lower end of said slot. Obviously, whenthe sleeve 11 is raise-d upwardly on the king pin 3 the platform B willbe pulled forwardly and through the parallel links 5 raised from theframe A.

A lever 17 is-"pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the pivot pin7 and disposed between the arms of the bifurcated end ofthe handle 8.The inner end of said lever has pivotally connected thereto Va thrustpawl 18 which norinallyunderlies and engages the flange 12 of the sleeve11. l The other end of said lever V17 is provided with a head 19 adaptedto cooperatewith a tooth or lug 20 formed at the base of the bifur-vcation of the handle 8 so as toY interlockrthe said handle with .saidlever and cause the lever to swing about its pivot simultaneously withdownward swinging of the handle 8 in Y vertical'planes. It will beobserved that the sleeve l11 is non-rotatable due to the connection withthe link 15, and that thethrust pawl 18l may slide lunder the vflange 12as the handle 8 is swung in horizontal planes to rotate the king pin 3.Thus,the thrust pawl 18 is in position to engage the flange k12 of thesleeve 11 in all vof the usual steering positions of Ithe handle v8 atangles to the longitudinal median. line of the truck. VViththe handle 8interlocked with the lever 17, when the handle is swungidownwardly aboutthe pivot 7, the lever 17 is caused to move therewith so that the thrustpawl 18 is raised. An upward thrust is thus im` posed upon the sleeve 11which moves the same upwardly on the king pin 3 so as to elevate theplatform B, the positions of the handle, the lever 17 and the sleeve 11when the platform is raised being shown in Figure 3. v l v y Anysuitable means for retaining the platform in its elevated position maybeutilized,

but in the present instance we khave shown the forward end of theplatform provided with a rearwardly facing tooth or lugV 21 which isadapted to be engaged by one end of a. detent lever 22 pivotally mountedintermediate itsends'on the frame as at The detent 22 is normally forcedinto position to engage the lug 21 as the platform is raised,

by means of a spring 24e. z Thus, when the .platform reaches itsuppermostposition the detent lever 22 rides over the lug 21 and en.gages with the rearward face ythereof to hold c the platform againstdownward vrmovement; It is .a feature of the invention that aftermostposition the steering handle 8 is autoincident to drawing the truck,so that the possibility of the handle being vaccidentally B .be.accidentally released, is obviated. ThisVY function is vaccomplishedthrough the vpin andV slot connection 9 of the handle with Vforciblythrown upward should the platform cir ` 'adapted to fall by the `pivotpin 7. Vhen a pull is exerted upon the handle, the handle slidesforwardly on the pin 7 so as to disengag'e the lug 20 from the head 19of the lever 17y thereby disconnecting said lever from the handle andpermitting the lever, by action of gravity on the 'sleeve l1, to swingupwardly to its nori'nal 4inoperative position, as shown inFigure 5.Vhen the lever 17 is so released the -sleeve 11 slides downwardly on thelring pin 3 whereby lthe pivotpin 14 of the link 1 5 is positioned inthe upper "end of the slot 13, so that should the platform B then bereleased the pin 14 would slide downwardly in! the 'slot 13 Without anyeffect upon the lever 17.

Itis also Vin'ipor'tant that means be provided for preventing injury toan operator by upward swinging' of Vthe handle incident to descent ofthe platform should the truck be left with the platformelevat'ed and aload thereon 'without disconnection of the handle fiofm the lever 17..Thus, we providey a detent 25 having one end pivotally connected I'at 26to vthe bracket 6 and the other end action of gravity into en'-fg'a'gement with'a lug 27 provided on the handle 8. v'lV'hen the handleis swung downvwardly to lelevate the vplatform B, the det-ent 25 followsthe handle Yuntil the latter reaches Hits lowerinost position when thedetent falls behind the lug 27, as shown in Figure 3, whereby upward`iiiove'm''ent ofthe handle vis prevented. 'A lspring 28 'may be securedto the detent'25 to engage the 4bracket 6 for initiating movement of thedetent 25 into its zoperative 'position when the handle ,8 is swungdownwardly. Obviously, Mthe platform B may be released from its elevatedposition by oscillation of the detent lever 22 to disengageit from the'lu-g 21. nfleansisl preferably provided-for convenient vactuation ofsaid` detent lever when'the operator is vstanding in any of theus'ualsteering positions vrelative to the truck,

and such means is shown vas comprising a Vsubstantially semi-circulartreadle 29. ar-

`ranged at the forward fside of the 'sleeve 11 'and 4overlying vtheoperating end ofthe' detent lever 22, said treadle being vpreferablypivotedto Vthe frame A on the saine axis as the lever v22. Thus,downwardpressuie on the treadle 29 by the foot ofthe operator, 4as shownin Figure 5, Awill disengage the detent lever 22 from the lug 21 'andpermit descent' of the platform.

To prevent accidental or unintentional ractuation o Y 'is operativelyconnected to the lever 17, the 4handle may be provided Vwith arm's 31adapted to underlie the tieadle 29 `when the handle Y 'is in itsloiverinost position as shown. in Figure 3. It will be observedV thatthere areA Vthree safety-features of "thet'ru'clrwhich pre- 1vent thepossibility of injury lto a-n operator by yupward swinging of the handleon accif the treadle 29V when the handle dental desceiitfof theplatform, namely, the

automatic disconnection of the handle from the lever 17 when the handleis pulled forwardly, the detent 25, and the arms 31to unl de'rliethe-treadle 29.

Any lin-own means maybe utilized for re* tarding ,the descent of theplatform, and in the present instance we have xshown the usual cylinderand piston "construction 30, the piston being pivo'tally 'connected tothe pl'atforni B ,and one 'end of the cylinderl pivotal'l'y connected tothe frame A.

In the operation of the truck, assuming 'the platform in its 'lower'mostposition, the lever 17 will be swung upwardly into the position shown inFigui-e 1. rVhen it is desiredto raise the' platfor'nifB the 'handle 8'is swung upwardly about its pivot7, as ind-i'-A cated by Figure 6, untilthe lug 2O on 'the handle engages the head 19 'of the lever.

The-head of the lever is preferably formed with an approach canil 32over which the lug 2O is adapted to ride, said 'approach camautomatically lifting and guiding the handle over the head 19, lifting.action being pen niitted by the pin and slot connection 7 9.

Tt will be ynoted that thisconnection'of the handle Swith the lever 17can take place at any of the usual steering positions ofthev handle, asclearly shown in Figure which the action is shown asv taking placeY attwo positionssubstantially 180,O apart. l/Vhe'n the liandlefhas beensoconnected to tlielever 17 the handle is swung downwafrdly, as shown inFigure-3, whereby the platform is, elevated as' above described. TheVhandle 8 and the lever v17 inleffect form a two-part handle,.one.ofsaid parts 'being ful'cr'umed to the steering swivel comprising theyking pin?) to swing 'in 'ajvertical plane and Acapable of movementAwith said swivel 'about the sleeve 11,V while the other part, the

lil() handle8, is adapted tobe interlocked with the first-mentioned partwh'ensw'ung downwardly ina vertical plane and f'icjtu'atesaidfirst-mentionedpart about thefulcrum to elevatek the platform.

While we 4have shown and described an i i elevating truck embodying"certain preferred details f'of construction, it ywill be understoodthat this Ais inai-nly for 'the' purpose'of illust'i'ating theprinciplesof "the invention, and

that many modications and changes can be made inv the said detailswithout departing fronithe spirit or scope 'of the invention. Therefore,we do `not desire to loe-understood as limiting ourselveseXcept asrequired byA .the following claims when construed inthe -light of theprior art. f f.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is:- v v 1. Anelevating truck comprising a lmai-n- -fraine mountedon wheels a-t 'itsrearend, a

steering swivel 'carrying'wheels journaled f i thefron't'end of said.frame, afmembe'r move said platform.

ablel in substantially the line of aXis of said steering swivel andhaving a peripheral flange, an elevatingl platform mounted on saidframefor vertical movement, an operative connection between said member andsaid-platform, an articulated two-part handle for actuating said member,one` partof` said handle being fulcrumed intermediate its ends on saidsteering swivel to swing in vertical planes, while the other part isadapted'to interlock with the first-mentioned part as thesecond-mentioned part is swung downwardly in a vertical plane to actuatesaid first-mentioned part, and a thrust pawl interposed lbetween saidfirst-mentioned part andsaid -ilange to raise said member as saidfirst-mentioned part is actuated and elevate 2. An elevating truckcomprising la main frame mounted on wheels at its rearend, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the frontend of saidyframe, a member movable in substantially the line of aXis of saidsteering swivel and having a peripheral flange', 4an yelevatingplat-form mounted on said frame `for vertical movement, an operativeconnection between said member and said platform, a lever pivotedintermediate frame mounted on wheelsy at its rear end, a

steering swivel: carrying wheels journaled inthe front end `of saidframe, a member movable Vin substantially the line of aXis of saidsteering swivel and havinga peripheral Harige, an elevating -platformmounted on.

said frame for vertical movement, an operative connection between ksaidmember. and said platform, a lever pivoted intermediate its ends on saidsteering swivel to swing in vertical planes,.a thrust pawl interposedbetween one end of said lever and said'flange on saidmember, and a drafthandle pivot- 'ally mounted on said steering swivel co- Y axially withsaid lever and adapted to interflange, an elevatingplatform mountedl onsaid frame for vertical movement, an opera-y tiveH connection betweensaid member and wsa-id plat-form, a lever .pivoted intermediate lockwith said lever as the handle is swung downwardly to actuate said leverand raise saidnmem'ber to elevate saidnplatform,

a. An elevating 4truck comprising' a main frame mounted on wheels atitsrear end, av

steering swivel carrying wheel journaled in vthe front end of saidframe, a member Inov-V able in 'substantially theline `of axis of saidsteering swivel and having a peripheral its ends on said steering swiveltol swing in vertical planes, athrust pawlv interposed between one endof said lever and said flange on said member, and a draft handlepivotally mountedl on said steering swivel and adapted gli the front endof said frame, a member mov- Y able in substantially the line rof aXisof said steering swivel and having av peripheral flange, an elevating`platform lmounted on said frame for vertical movement, an operativeconnection between said member andV said platform, a lever pivotedintermediate its endson said steering swivel kto swing in verticalplanes, a thrust pawl interposed between one end of said lever and sai-dflange onsaid member, a draft handle having a pin and slot connectionwith saidfswivel for longitudinal movement and pivotal movement invertical planes, and means for causing interlocking vof said handle andsaid lever as the handle is swung downwardly, said interlock between thehandle and said lever beingr released by a longitudinal pull upon saidhandle. Y

6. The ,elevating truck set forth in claim 5 in which said pin and slotconnection'of the handle is with the same pivot which supv ports Vsaidlever. l y y Y 7. An elevating truck comprising main frame mounted onwheels at. its rear end, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaledin the front end of said frame,a member movable in substantially the Vline of aXisof said steeringswivel, an elevating platform mounted on said framev for verticalmovement, anoperative connection between. said member and said platform,4a handle pivotally connected to said steering swivel to swing in avertical plane, said handlel being bifurcatedr adjacent-its pivot andformed with a lug at the base of the bifurcation, a lever pivotallymounted between its ends on said pivot of the handle betweeny the armsof said bifurcations, one end of said Vlever being formed to interlockwith said lug onA th'erhandle as the handle is swungvdownvwardly toactuate thelever, and an operativeconnection between the other end ofsaid lever and said memberA to raise the latter and elevatethe. platformas said lever is actuated. n f .Y .I

8. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels 'at itsrearvend, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of saidframe, a platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement, a handlepivotallyymounted on said steering swivel to swing in a vertical plane,means for connecting said handle to said platform to raise the latter assaid handle isl swung" downw-ardly, and means adapted to be interposedbetween said swivel and said handle between theV free end of the'platform to raise the latter as said handle is 'swung downwardly, and adetent connected to said frame and adapted to engage said handle whenthe latter is in its lower-` most liftingposition to hold the handle.

against upward movement while the same is operatively connected to theplatform.

10. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front endof said frame, a platform mounted on said frame for verticalV movement,a handle pivotally mounted l on said steering swivel to swing in avertical plane, means for connecting said handle to said platform whenthe handle is in any steering position to raise said platform as thehandle is swung downwardly, and a detent mounted on said swivel toengage said handle in any of said steering positionsv at its lowermostlifting position to hold said handle against upward movement.

l1. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front endof said frame, a platform mounted on said frame for vertical movement,a. handle p ivotally mounted on said steering swivel to swing in avertical plane and having a lug thereon, means for conw necting saidhandle to said platform to raise the latter as the handle is swungdownwardly, and a detent pivotally mounted at one end on said frame withits other end adapted to follow said handle as the same is swungdownwardly and engage said lug when the handle reaches its lowermostlifting position to hold the handle againstV upward vmovement. 'i

12. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels at itsrear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front endof said frame, a platform mounted on said frame for vertical movenient,a men'ib'ermovable in si'ibstantially' the line of of said' steeringxswivel=randhaving a pin and sloty connection wit-li safid' platform arecapable of relativ-e movement' a distance substantially equalto'thegdistance of movement of said platform, handle mounted on saidswivel to swing in a vertical plane, and'V means connected' to saidmember and adapted to separably interlock with saidlhandle as the,"latter ris swung downwardly to raise said Ymember and ele-fv vate vsaidplatform; saidhandle and means being separable after said platform hasbeen elevated and vpermitting said member and said means to return totheir normal inlplatfo-rn'i whereby said ymember and; said"` operativepositions, whereby subsequent descent of said, platform takes placeindependent of said member.

13. An elevating truck comprising amain frame mounted on wheels at itsvrear end, a

steering' swivel carrying Awheels journaled in the frontend of saidframe, a platform 'i mounted on said frame for vertical movement, amember' movable .in substantially the line of aXis of said swivel, alink having apivotal connection at one end with said platform and a pinand slot connection at the other end with said member to permit relativemovement of said member and said link a distance substantially equal tothe distance of movement of said platform, a handle pivotally mounted onsaid swivel to swing in a vertical plane, and means connected to saidmember and adapted to separably interlock with Vsaid handle as vthelatter is swung downwardly to elevate said platform, said handle andsaid means being separable after elevation of said platform to permitsaid member and said means to return to their normal inoperativepositions.

lll. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels atitsrear end, a steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the frontend of said frame, a platform mounted on said frame for vertical move-vment, a member movable in substantially the line of axis of said swiveland having alon'- gitudinal slot of a length substantially equal to thedistance of movement of saidv platform, a link pivotally connected atone end to said platform, a pin passing through said i slot and theother end of said link to connect said link to said member, a handlepivotally connected to said swivel .to swing in vertical planes, andmeans connected to said member and adapted to separably interlock' withsaid handle as the latter is swung downwardly to elevate 'said platform,saidl handle and said means being separable after elevation of saidplatform.

. 15. An elevating truck comprising a main frame mounted on wheels atitsrear end, a

steering swivel carrying wheels journaled in the front end of saidframe, a platform A mounted on said frame for vertical movethe pivot ofsaidhandle and adapted to ment, af member movable in substantiallyseparably interlock atene vend with said 15 the line of axis ofsaidswivel and having a handle. as the latter is swung downwardly,longitudinal slot of a length substantially and a thrust pawl pivotallyconnected at one 'l' equal to the distance of movement of Said end tothe other end vrof said lever and enplatform, a link pivotally Connectedat one gaging Said member to raise the same as said end to saidplatform, a pin passing through handle i3 swung downwardly and elevatethe'20 said slot and the other endY o1 said link to platform, saidhandle and said lever being connect said link `to said member, a handleadapted to be separated by a longitudinal 10 having a pin and slotconnection with said pull upon the handle. Y swivel forlongitudinal'movement and for pivotal movement in Vertical planes, alever HENRY SHELDEN GERMOND, JR. pivotally mounted intermedia-te itsends on FRANK L. EIDMANN.

